The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Follows Poor Reception
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a clearer direction.
Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete message from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to persist observing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or consoles, but players can anticipate further news as production continues.
